WEBVTT 00:00:31.869 --> 00:00:35.950 But you're just bringing from the music as the wedding reception last week somehow. 00:00:36.670 --> 00:00:37.950 Young people like loud music. 00:00:38.030 --> 00:00:38.990 I haven't figured this out. 00:00:39.310 --> 00:00:40.350 I don't understand it. 00:00:40.509 --> 00:00:46.590 But uh so I I think the real way to dive is near my symptom. 00:00:47.070 --> 00:00:48.189 Did you dance? 00:00:48.750 --> 00:00:51.469 Uh I did the father-daughter dance other than that. 00:00:51.549 --> 00:00:53.710 There were others who were more energetic. 00:00:53.950 --> 00:00:54.109 Okay. 00:01:00.509 --> 00:01:01.629 But it was joyous. 00:01:03.149 --> 00:01:08.109 After the wedding, I was happy that our checkbook was finally cooled off. 00:01:11.789 --> 00:01:13.949 I'm sure we can find some ways to heat it up again. 00:01:14.109 --> 00:01:15.870 No, they did while I was there. 00:01:17.549 --> 00:01:18.109 There it is. 00:01:18.269 --> 00:01:18.829 Alright. 00:01:20.349 --> 00:01:22.030 Did I hear Jersey comments in the back? 00:01:23.390 --> 00:01:27.469 I was gonna say I I wasn't here last week, so what happened last week? 00:01:30.269 --> 00:01:33.870 A lot of names are so what were those names? 00:01:36.669 --> 00:01:37.469 You had to be here. 00:01:37.710 --> 00:01:38.750 You'd have to ask Alan. 00:01:39.069 --> 00:01:40.590 He read them and he's not here. 00:01:40.830 --> 00:01:42.590 Alan, okay, that figures, okay. 00:01:43.150 --> 00:01:45.710 Were there any good guys last week or bad guys? 00:01:46.669 --> 00:01:49.389 We would I think they're up next to you. 00:01:51.069 --> 00:01:52.109 Your pro names. 00:01:52.430 --> 00:01:53.550 There were good guys. 00:01:53.629 --> 00:01:56.270 It was uh Nehemiah's brother. 00:01:56.830 --> 00:01:57.870 Nehemiah's brother. 00:01:58.270 --> 00:01:59.550 Hananiah, somebody? 00:01:59.710 --> 00:02:00.109 Yeah. 00:02:01.069 --> 00:02:02.590 Hanani and Hananiah. 00:02:02.909 --> 00:02:03.949 Yeah, they may have been twins. 00:02:06.590 --> 00:02:07.550 Maybe twins as well. 00:02:07.710 --> 00:02:08.189 So thank you. 00:02:08.270 --> 00:02:08.990 I feel caught up now. 00:02:09.150 --> 00:02:09.629 That's that's good. 00:02:09.710 --> 00:02:10.509 That's a good summary. 00:02:10.590 --> 00:02:10.990 Thank you. 00:02:13.550 --> 00:02:18.270 But the wall is up, the genealogy's being established. 00:02:20.590 --> 00:02:25.229 Which is sort of a theme for the man who's about to re-enter this narrative. 00:02:25.469 --> 00:02:32.750 Um now it's worth noting that Ezra and Nehemiah were in the Old Testament, they're originally one book. 00:02:33.150 --> 00:02:46.669 And uh here in Nehemiah, we're gonna have Ezra re-entered the narrative roughly 12 years after the ending of what we have in the book of the Bible named after him. 00:02:46.989 --> 00:02:47.709 Where did he go? 00:02:47.949 --> 00:02:48.590 Where'd he go? 00:02:48.669 --> 00:02:49.389 He's still there. 00:02:49.549 --> 00:02:49.789 Okay. 00:02:50.030 --> 00:02:58.109 Um he's been uh as much as we could tell, he has his own genealogy crisis uh with people with intermarrying and the end of that. 00:02:58.189 --> 00:02:59.870 But he has been, he's called the scribe. 00:02:59.949 --> 00:03:04.829 He's been teaching people, he's had he's been establishing a temple court system. 00:03:05.549 --> 00:03:09.629 And like when he gets there, they can't even figure out who the Levites are. 00:03:10.109 --> 00:03:12.750 And um, which is not a problem that Neah has. 00:03:12.989 --> 00:03:17.549 Nehemiah, when they have they show up, they at least kind of know who some of the priests are. 00:03:17.789 --> 00:03:28.829 Um, he's been re-established the priests and trying to get the temple rebuilt when he gets there, which that part is successful. 00:03:28.989 --> 00:03:35.469 And it's so when they start off, it's like it's it's like okay, somebody's gotta read the law, and who do the people all point to? 00:03:35.549 --> 00:03:37.069 They all point at this guy. 00:03:37.150 --> 00:03:42.989 He's like he's like, this is the guy who knows this guy. 00:03:43.469 --> 00:03:52.909 Um and so Ezra's back, and but it's also in the like Nehemiah and Ezra or one book, they don't feel the need to reintroduce him here. 00:03:53.069 --> 00:04:01.949 It's it's like, you know, so what would have been, you know, they wouldn't have had chapter numbers in the original Old Testament either, but it's like, okay, like we've just had an interlude, okay? 00:04:02.109 --> 00:04:05.949 Bring Ezra back out of the narrative, here he is. 00:04:06.590 --> 00:04:11.069 Um and so here we are, Nehemiah chapter 8. 00:04:11.150 --> 00:04:24.910 And so the people come together, the wall is up, Nehemiah's read, established the genealogies, the people have been are are gathering back together, um, they're separating out who people are by tribe. 00:04:25.949 --> 00:04:32.110 People are beginning to really again figure out who they are, their connection with the people. 00:04:32.269 --> 00:04:38.829 Uh, there's been either some gift giving or at least some recognition of the gift giving that has been done. 00:04:39.069 --> 00:04:53.390 And Nehemiah, he said he has set, if we remember from last week, the priests, he set the gatekeepers, we have the singers appointed, and so we're ready to rededicate all of this and ourselves as a people to God. 00:04:55.230 --> 00:05:04.350 And and what is going to be well, in reality, I don't think any of them see what's about to come in Nehemiah chapter eight. 00:05:04.590 --> 00:05:15.710 Um what will probably be one of the largest particip one of the largest camp outs, spontaneous camp outs, you know, you know, ever done. 00:05:15.870 --> 00:05:24.430 And, you know, if anyone feels the need to reenact the feast of booths here at the end of this, um we've got some trees out of the back. 00:05:24.670 --> 00:05:32.110 I don't know for how much longer, but um, you know, if you want to help the construction crews, um, here it comes. 00:05:32.430 --> 00:05:36.750 So let's get Ezra Ezra's introduction here with Nehemiah 8. 00:05:36.990 --> 00:05:38.430 I mean, do we have a volunteer? 00:05:38.590 --> 00:05:43.390 Um, we do have some names, but um, you know. 00:05:44.030 --> 00:05:47.150 Uh anybody want to do say verses one through eight? 00:05:47.629 --> 00:05:48.350 I'll do it. 00:05:48.590 --> 00:05:49.470 Thank you. 00:05:50.110 --> 00:05:57.710 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the water gate. 00:05:57.790 --> 00:06:00.350 And they, well, they had water gate back then. 00:06:03.470 --> 00:06:11.069 It was in front of the water gate, and they told Ezra, the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 00:06:11.230 --> 00:06:21.230 So Ezra, the priest, brought the law before the assembly of men and women, and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 00:06:21.470 --> 00:06:35.550 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the water gate from morning until midday, before the men and women, and those who could understand, and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 00:06:35.710 --> 00:07:04.910 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose, and beside him, at his right hand, stood Matatiah, Shema, Anah, Uriah, Eurijah, Hilkiah, and Maessiah, and at his left hand, Pediah, uh, let's see,ah, that's how it's pronounced. 00:07:05.069 --> 00:07:14.030 Uh, Mishel, Mount Kijah, Hashem, Hasbedaina, Zachariah, and Meshuel. 00:07:14.189 --> 00:07:20.030 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people. 00:07:20.189 --> 00:07:26.590 And when he opened it, all the people stood up, and Ezra blessed the Lord, the good, the great God. 00:07:26.830 --> 00:08:04.910 Then all the people answered, Amen, amen, while lifting up their hands, and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground, and just Jehuah, Banai, Sherebiah, Jaman, Aku, Shakbatai, Hodanjah, Maesia, Kelitah, Azariah, Josebad, Hanan, Leah, and the Levites helped the people to understand the law, and the people stood in their places. 00:08:05.069 --> 00:08:13.150 So they read this they read distinctly from the book in the law of God, and they gave the sense and helped them to understand the reading. 00:08:13.950 --> 00:08:15.230 Thank you, Robin. 00:08:16.510 --> 00:08:18.670 Somebody want to take on nine through twelve? 00:08:19.230 --> 00:08:19.790 Sure. 00:08:20.189 --> 00:08:20.750 Thank you. 00:08:21.870 --> 00:08:34.669 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the Lord your God. 00:08:35.309 --> 00:08:37.309 Do not mourn or weep. 00:08:37.789 --> 00:08:42.429 For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 00:08:42.590 --> 00:08:55.549 Then he said to them, Go eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. 00:08:55.870 --> 00:09:00.750 Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 00:09:00.990 --> 00:09:08.429 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, Be still, for the day is holy, do not be grieved. 00:09:08.829 --> 00:09:22.909 All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate the great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them. 00:09:25.789 --> 00:09:26.029 Yes. 00:09:26.269 --> 00:09:26.509 Okay. 00:09:26.909 --> 00:09:28.829 Uh, would anyone want to finish the chapter? 00:09:28.990 --> 00:09:31.469 And thus the potluck was invented. 00:09:34.349 --> 00:09:44.110 On the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the law. 00:09:44.269 --> 00:10:04.909 And they found it written in the law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written. 00:10:05.149 --> 00:10:16.990 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the water gate, and in the square at the gate of Ephraim. 00:10:17.389 --> 00:10:23.230 And all the assembly of those had who had returned from the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths. 00:10:23.469 --> 00:10:29.230 For from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. 00:10:29.389 --> 00:10:36.269 And there was very great rejoicing, and day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. 00:10:36.429 --> 00:10:42.269 They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the rule. 00:10:46.029 --> 00:10:47.309 That's a lot of reading. 00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:49.789 Seven days? 00:10:50.110 --> 00:10:56.509 Well, so what will be the book of the law of Moses? 00:10:57.469 --> 00:10:58.750 What's the what's that book? 00:10:59.870 --> 00:11:01.549 That'd be the Pentateuch or Torah? 00:11:04.589 --> 00:11:05.549 Could be all five. 00:11:06.189 --> 00:11:09.789 Could also be Deuteronomy when Moses got up and read. 00:11:12.349 --> 00:11:14.349 Yeah, the second giving of the law. 00:11:14.509 --> 00:11:16.509 And he summarizes it as well. 00:11:18.029 --> 00:11:26.429 So the first day that on the first time they read it for a long time, from early morning until midday, one of my commentaries said it might be up to six hours. 00:11:26.589 --> 00:11:26.990 Yep. 00:11:27.870 --> 00:11:31.230 Now, how many people want to hear Kenny preaching for six hours? 00:11:31.629 --> 00:11:32.909 Suzanne, what about you? 00:11:33.469 --> 00:11:35.309 Yeah, I love it. 00:11:37.629 --> 00:11:41.230 The record notes Suzanne by the Ninth Commitment, too. 00:11:45.389 --> 00:11:49.629 That'd be a long time standing up uh in the sun to do that. 00:11:50.269 --> 00:11:51.149 And who was there? 00:11:51.389 --> 00:11:52.029 Yeah. 00:11:52.349 --> 00:12:00.509 No, no, no, no, seriously, who was there for this five, six hour uh read crowd of people and women and children. 00:12:00.750 --> 00:12:01.230 Everyone. 00:12:01.709 --> 00:12:03.789 Yeah, all the people who wasn't there. 00:12:04.029 --> 00:12:04.589 All the people. 00:12:04.750 --> 00:12:06.669 And they stood the whole time. 00:12:07.549 --> 00:12:08.589 Out reference. 00:12:09.549 --> 00:12:11.309 I don't think the children kept still. 00:12:11.549 --> 00:12:14.189 I was gonna say I don't think that people do. 00:12:16.269 --> 00:12:23.629 And basically the men and women and all who could understand what they heard. 00:12:23.949 --> 00:12:27.149 So anybody that would include the kids. 00:12:27.469 --> 00:12:34.990 So yeah, the kids, but it's like if they could understand what they heard, they were there. 00:12:36.429 --> 00:12:41.870 And so we have a giant corporate family service. 00:12:42.509 --> 00:12:50.829 Uh some commentators, you know, estimate, you know, I mean, I mean, there could have been 30,000 Israelites. 00:12:50.990 --> 00:13:01.309 And they they build a big platform, no microphones, you know, and they put they put Ezra up there with a book. 00:13:04.349 --> 00:13:05.709 That's a commanding voice. 00:13:05.870 --> 00:13:06.509 Yeah. 00:13:07.629 --> 00:13:14.909 Yeah, I mean, Charles Charles Spurgeon preached before you know crowds in the tens, 20,000s before microphones. 00:13:15.069 --> 00:13:20.909 I mean, I don't know, even ancient times may have had some knowledge of acoustics, but they were like, all right, be really quiet. 00:13:20.990 --> 00:13:22.189 The sacred thing is happening. 00:13:22.509 --> 00:13:24.429 But that's also why they have the Levites there. 00:13:24.509 --> 00:13:30.829 They're going around telling the people, okay, do you understand what you just that's also probably one of the reasons it took six hours. 00:13:31.069 --> 00:13:35.789 Because they're probably, I mean, in my mind, he's probably reading in sections, and then you have. 00:13:36.029 --> 00:13:37.149 Let's stop for a second, let's explain. 00:13:37.469 --> 00:13:39.949 Yeah, and then and then you have the small group moment. 00:13:41.309 --> 00:13:53.629 Um, you know, you have this, you know, it's I don't, you know, they're probably not all sitting around tables and having coffee, but uh, you know, there's you know, there's there's some explanation. 00:13:54.589 --> 00:14:02.110 And they discover, you know, we were actually commanded during this time to do this feast of booths, and this has not been done in centuries. 00:14:02.589 --> 00:14:03.069 Yeah. 00:14:09.469 --> 00:14:10.750 What's with the booths? 00:14:10.829 --> 00:14:13.469 I don't understand what the Oh, that's coming up. 00:14:13.870 --> 00:14:20.429 That was to commemorate the people um in the wilderness when they were living in tents with ancestors here. 00:14:20.990 --> 00:14:22.589 It was temporary shelter. 00:14:23.069 --> 00:14:23.230 Yeah. 00:14:23.949 --> 00:14:25.469 Bill found the Hebrew name for it. 00:14:26.909 --> 00:14:29.949 Uh while while he would keep for what did you say it was called? 00:14:31.629 --> 00:14:31.870 Yeah. 00:14:33.709 --> 00:14:40.990 No, no, you because you asked me if you it was that one thing, and then you asked your phone, and then you came back as this, but then you but then you said Chevrolet, yeah. 00:14:41.389 --> 00:14:42.029 Sukas. 00:14:42.349 --> 00:14:42.829 Sukkus. 00:14:43.149 --> 00:14:46.589 S-U-K-K-O-T, but they pronounced the T as an S. 00:14:47.389 --> 00:14:52.589 So the piece of the booze reminded them of their time in the wilderness. 00:14:52.750 --> 00:14:53.789 They would celebrate that. 00:14:54.429 --> 00:15:00.990 And um, well, kind of in these temporary shelters, even though they lived in these nice houses back in the day, whatever they were. 00:15:01.629 --> 00:15:05.870 So when they did that for a whole week in a solemn assembly at the end of that. 00:15:06.269 --> 00:15:07.549 It was a big deal. 00:15:07.709 --> 00:15:11.069 Well, even though they had even though they they already had places to live. 00:15:11.309 --> 00:15:11.549 Yeah. 00:15:11.709 --> 00:15:11.870 Right. 00:15:12.029 --> 00:15:13.549 This was just in commemoration. 00:15:13.870 --> 00:15:14.509 It's commemoration. 00:15:14.750 --> 00:15:14.829 Yeah. 00:15:20.349 --> 00:15:22.189 Because they once had not had homes. 00:15:22.429 --> 00:15:22.589 Right. 00:15:22.909 --> 00:15:24.429 And God provided for them. 00:15:25.069 --> 00:15:25.230 Yes. 00:15:25.549 --> 00:15:31.709 That was in the spring I think there were three spring festivals, Passover, and I think this was one of the pieces. 00:15:33.069 --> 00:15:34.189 Some of us aren't really that. 00:15:34.669 --> 00:15:38.909 Some of us reached a fortune life or we're not in for camping. 00:15:39.549 --> 00:15:42.829 So I'm just wondering if they had like various variations. 00:15:43.230 --> 00:15:44.669 Like a real rough camping. 00:15:45.230 --> 00:15:52.750 You know, like lamping, maybe uh inflatable booth or something, uh little AC going. 00:15:53.149 --> 00:15:56.750 Yeah, yeah, I'm sure that's I'm sure that's how they did that as well. 00:15:57.709 --> 00:16:07.549 This this little bit though reminds us of something back in Deuteronomy 5, where it says, and Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, Here are you for the statutes and rules that is speaking or hearing today. 00:16:07.870 --> 00:16:10.429 So we have a precedent of Moses giving the law. 00:16:10.509 --> 00:16:16.029 So this is the other, this is a similar assembly that the whole group is there. 00:16:16.110 --> 00:16:19.469 It's very um very solemn, very uh very amazing. 00:16:19.549 --> 00:16:22.990 So Moses did the same thing with a bigger crowd. 00:16:23.389 --> 00:16:24.269 Yeah, and a few things. 00:16:24.349 --> 00:16:27.469 I don't know if you have some on this now, and kind of full disclosure. 00:16:27.549 --> 00:16:33.789 I think one with Al's travels and you helping somebody, we didn't get to do our usual kind of comparing of notes this week. 00:16:34.029 --> 00:16:39.230 Um, so anything good comes out of this, it's especially Holy Spirit. 00:16:39.469 --> 00:16:45.629 Um, like on verse one, the people all gather together in unity. 00:16:45.709 --> 00:16:52.269 And and what strikes me is this is that they tell Urza to bring the book of the law. 00:16:52.429 --> 00:17:02.269 It's like there's an expectation, it's like it's it's not Ezra and Nehemiah said, okay, you all gonna listen to this now. 00:17:02.429 --> 00:17:06.269 It's it's we need to be reestablished. 00:17:06.349 --> 00:17:09.710 It's like it's time to hear the law. 00:17:09.950 --> 00:17:14.670 And and I think that's an amazing thing to think about. 00:17:14.910 --> 00:17:23.789 One for them, it's like the people, Nehemiah has come in, he's saying, look what God has promised us to do, now look what has happened. 00:17:23.870 --> 00:17:25.309 He says, We're fulfilling this. 00:17:25.390 --> 00:17:30.509 It's there's an expectation of God is doing something, we are fulfilling the law. 00:17:30.750 --> 00:17:32.990 What else does the law say? 00:17:33.150 --> 00:17:35.150 What else does God's word say? 00:17:35.309 --> 00:17:54.829 And I think that's uh for myself as a church member, historically, it's like when I come to church and when I participate in in and want to hear wisdom, do I expect people to present me with the gospel? 00:17:55.710 --> 00:17:58.109 Do I expect the Bible? 00:17:58.269 --> 00:18:07.309 Or do I just expect people's opinions, bloviations, good advice, you know, uh latest podcast? 00:18:07.470 --> 00:18:09.069 Um you're feeling good. 00:18:09.230 --> 00:18:09.869 Yeah. 00:18:10.430 --> 00:18:12.269 Do I want the latest Joel Oste? 00:18:12.750 --> 00:18:19.549 Um, do I, you know, it's like they're they're like, no, it's like, what has God said? 00:18:21.069 --> 00:18:22.750 And then they bring it out. 00:18:22.829 --> 00:18:44.190 And and they also do it, it's like we kind of get like, I know Moses, like one of the first pulpits here, you know, it's they put Ezra and the book up, I mean, one level practically, you know, you know, so people can hear, but then they put the elders behind them and they put the book above everybody. 00:18:44.349 --> 00:18:47.549 And it's like, this is above everybody. 00:18:47.789 --> 00:18:59.389 And then the emphasis is on send the priests and the Levites out into the crowd, make sure everybody knows what's going on while this book is being read. 00:18:59.549 --> 00:19:04.269 It's everything about the word of God here is central. 00:19:05.069 --> 00:19:10.750 And it's as the word of God is being read, that's what people respond to. 00:19:11.549 --> 00:19:15.470 Which means they're also inclined to listen. 00:19:16.990 --> 00:19:22.349 And that's what brings up on this sort of cultural part of revival. 00:19:22.430 --> 00:19:26.909 Because remember, they have Jerusalem, still mostly doesn't have, I mean, they got the wall back. 00:19:27.069 --> 00:19:28.589 They got a certain sense of unity. 00:19:28.829 --> 00:19:31.389 They're still gonna have some traitors in their midst. 00:19:31.629 --> 00:19:38.589 Um you've had some people out telling them, no, don't build this thing, it's causing too much trouble. 00:19:38.829 --> 00:19:45.950 Like, but you've got the but the temple's kind of up, but it's, you know, they're still sorting out, okay, are you a Levite? 00:19:46.029 --> 00:19:47.389 Are you not a Levite? 00:19:47.629 --> 00:19:52.509 But but a lot of old things from their culture are just kind of shattered. 00:19:52.670 --> 00:19:56.750 And people haven't, it's like, what can they have better? 00:19:57.069 --> 00:19:59.389 What they have is the word of God. 00:20:01.230 --> 00:20:05.230 It's like that's what they have here as an identity. 00:20:05.869 --> 00:20:10.909 What God has given them, what God has done that has done for them. 00:20:11.389 --> 00:20:14.589 That's what brings them together as a people. 00:20:16.190 --> 00:20:18.829 And that's what they respond to. 00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:31.149 I mean, I think it's one thing I love here about church churches I've been is like like we spend so much time teaching and explaining the Bible. 00:20:32.029 --> 00:20:40.349 We do other things, but that's it's that's what we expect God to work through. 00:20:41.710 --> 00:20:42.349 Right. 00:20:42.589 --> 00:20:44.909 That's my that's my mini sermon of opinion. 00:20:45.389 --> 00:20:46.109 What do you have on that? 00:20:46.269 --> 00:20:49.149 Preacher, brother Jason, preacher, preacher, oh, who was it? 00:20:49.389 --> 00:20:49.549 All right. 00:20:49.710 --> 00:20:51.789 That's the first opening of six hours to come. 00:20:51.869 --> 00:20:52.349 Here we go. 00:20:52.509 --> 00:20:52.909 All right. 00:20:53.789 --> 00:20:54.670 Jane has a question. 00:20:54.750 --> 00:20:54.909 Yeah. 00:21:01.629 --> 00:21:05.549 We stand when he reads the word of God ever sounding, you know. 00:21:06.269 --> 00:21:07.470 But beloved. 00:21:07.950 --> 00:21:09.309 Because you'll put all the people stood. 00:21:09.549 --> 00:21:14.670 That's a reason why we stand and worship today when we read scripture. 00:21:15.069 --> 00:21:20.670 The other thing, the feeling in here for me was stronger than just the reading, and hey, I've got it this well. 00:21:20.750 --> 00:21:22.269 We are we are people of the book. 00:21:22.349 --> 00:21:27.950 Um, I don't know that all of us, but you know, we read the Bible uh regularly and understand a lot about it. 00:21:28.109 --> 00:21:32.349 The feeling for me was almost like they had not really done that for a while. 00:21:32.509 --> 00:21:44.269 The priests may have, and they may have explained some things to that, but it's unclear whether the people really like heard the law like laid out just it's clearly along and absorbed it uh as well. 00:21:44.430 --> 00:21:54.670 It's not the same as, but it had the feeling to me, like in uh Josiah, 2 Kings 22, when um they were doing repairs in the temple, and the high priest said, Hey, guess what? 00:21:54.829 --> 00:22:05.710 We found the law, like they lost it, and so I don't know if it'd fallen out of the Ark of the Covenant, whatever they disappeared to or what happened, but you know they they found it, and then oh, that was a that was a big deal. 00:22:05.789 --> 00:22:07.629 Josiah made a big deal out of that too. 00:22:07.869 --> 00:22:23.069 It's maybe the same, but has that kind of feeling is that man, this is the first time I'm really getting the whole thing, and then the people have an emotional reaction to that uh the full reading, the disclosure of the law. 00:22:23.149 --> 00:22:28.829 Maybe they understood bits and pieces, maybe they've heard and read it, but I think it's it's being an emotional reaction. 00:22:28.909 --> 00:22:31.549 I think I think it's an Ezra, I think it covers a similar. 00:22:32.509 --> 00:22:35.389 I think it says that it says the older people are weeping. 00:22:35.549 --> 00:22:40.750 Well, it says it right here, some of them are weeping, but the younger generation are rejoicing. 00:22:43.470 --> 00:22:44.029 So yeah. 00:22:44.349 --> 00:22:45.149 September loves. 00:22:46.909 --> 00:22:48.269 I said I said it wrong. 00:22:48.909 --> 00:22:50.349 This is a fall festival. 00:22:50.589 --> 00:22:52.909 This year it begins on September 25th. 00:22:52.990 --> 00:22:55.629 So we're coming up on Feast of Booze? 00:22:56.349 --> 00:22:58.750 Yeah, seventh month in the Hebrew calendar. 00:22:59.869 --> 00:23:04.750 Oh, so you got a tent for the Feast of Booze, Bill, or what do you think? 00:23:04.909 --> 00:23:06.190 Oh sorry, I'm running out of topic. 00:23:06.349 --> 00:23:06.670 Okay. 00:23:07.549 --> 00:23:12.509 So the book had not been invented yet. 00:23:13.309 --> 00:23:16.750 And um the synagogue wasn't invented yet. 00:23:18.109 --> 00:23:22.029 So how could any of the people hear the word of God? 00:23:22.750 --> 00:23:23.950 Very good question. 00:23:24.430 --> 00:23:25.549 Very good question. 00:23:26.109 --> 00:23:27.549 How would you answer that? 00:23:28.909 --> 00:23:30.509 I'm sorry, but they didn't. 00:23:30.909 --> 00:23:31.869 They didn't, right? 00:23:32.109 --> 00:23:35.069 So this was they only knew what they heard from other people. 00:23:36.670 --> 00:23:38.190 They might not have regular worship. 00:23:38.349 --> 00:23:43.710 Um this is a disparate group of people, these 30,000, and brought together. 00:23:44.029 --> 00:23:45.869 It's not like they're all organized. 00:23:46.349 --> 00:23:51.149 So it's possible, many of them have never heard any of this. 00:23:51.389 --> 00:23:53.629 Maybe nobody heard the whole thing, but you're right. 00:24:02.109 --> 00:24:03.629 They were violating, clearly violating that. 00:24:03.789 --> 00:24:06.349 Nehemiah, wait a minute, that's that's not right. 00:24:06.509 --> 00:24:08.109 Nehemiah made the law. 00:24:12.509 --> 00:24:16.829 But the people may not have actually known as well, they just knew what they felt. 00:24:17.470 --> 00:24:19.950 So this just seems like this is a pivotal ab, really. 00:24:20.029 --> 00:24:23.470 This is just a huge thing to lay out. 00:24:29.230 --> 00:24:33.230 The next big sermon that we get sermon on the mount. 00:24:36.829 --> 00:24:38.430 Explains what it means. 00:24:39.389 --> 00:24:40.269 I'm sorry, Jason. 00:24:40.349 --> 00:24:41.230 I diverted this too. 00:24:41.549 --> 00:24:41.869 No. 00:24:42.589 --> 00:24:43.869 You don't mind me diverting us? 00:24:44.269 --> 00:24:44.829 No, no, no. 00:24:45.710 --> 00:24:48.190 It's not a divergion, it's about scripture. 00:24:48.430 --> 00:24:53.629 Um, did you I don't know. 00:24:54.269 --> 00:24:56.589 We kind of get to kind of move into verse 9, do you think? 00:24:56.909 --> 00:24:57.710 Yeah, okay. 00:24:58.750 --> 00:25:05.149 Alright, so they start weeping. 00:25:08.109 --> 00:25:08.670 Didn't you result? 00:25:08.990 --> 00:25:11.389 Alright, you you hear the whole Old Testament. 00:25:12.670 --> 00:25:13.869 I think it's worth thinking about. 00:25:14.029 --> 00:25:16.029 The the text doesn't uh explain this. 00:25:16.269 --> 00:25:19.230 They start weaving, they start grieving. 00:25:19.869 --> 00:25:20.990 What do we think of that? 00:25:21.149 --> 00:25:22.990 Why would they weep? 00:25:23.230 --> 00:25:24.269 Why cry? 00:25:24.509 --> 00:25:27.950 Because they probably realized how disobedient they've been. 00:25:31.309 --> 00:25:36.190 Would it have been a combination of that and also on the flip side? 00:25:37.710 --> 00:25:49.950 Although we like to think that grace came with Jesus, people back then, if they heard the word, if they truly heard it, they would have heard some element of grace. 00:25:50.829 --> 00:26:02.269 So not only were they weeping as uh for their sin, but they were also weeping because they were being reminded of the fact that they're forgiven. 00:26:02.589 --> 00:26:05.309 Even though they were a joyous cry. 00:26:05.549 --> 00:26:09.549 They may not have understood the forgiveness in the way that we do it. 00:26:11.389 --> 00:26:11.629 That's right. 00:26:11.710 --> 00:26:18.990 And if you'd read the full uh two or different parts of it, they would have recognized what their forefathers did, what they had, and what they lost. 00:26:19.710 --> 00:26:22.029 I mean, there it could be all kinds of elements with that. 00:26:22.109 --> 00:26:35.389 They recognize their own sin, but like, man, there was even Daniel prayed about our sins, even though Daniel wasn't recorded as you know being like a daily type, but you know, there's there's there's there's this passing, like, my goodness, what did what do we have and what do we lose? 00:26:35.470 --> 00:26:36.190 You know, by the way. 00:26:36.750 --> 00:26:42.750 I I I think the Old Testament Jews Hebrews did understand grace. 00:26:42.909 --> 00:27:02.990 You know, it said they read from the law in Deuteronomy, probably the I'm guessing the whole tentative, but in Deuteronomy Properonomy 7, and I'm it was read right here, I'm sure, where it says that um God says, Don't think that you're better, you know, you Hebrews, you covenant people of mine, it's not that you're any any better than anyone else. 00:27:03.230 --> 00:27:04.509 Quite quite the opposite. 00:27:04.670 --> 00:27:07.149 I chose you to be my people because I loved you. 00:27:08.029 --> 00:27:08.750 I love you. 00:27:09.230 --> 00:27:10.430 So that's grace. 00:27:10.670 --> 00:27:12.990 I'm actually more curious where you got a Bible that's small. 00:27:14.029 --> 00:27:15.869 It's just actually amazing to me. 00:27:17.230 --> 00:27:20.670 Some book bookstore, I think it was a library bookstore. 00:27:20.909 --> 00:27:22.109 No one wear glasses, I get it. 00:27:22.190 --> 00:27:22.430 Sorry. 00:27:24.109 --> 00:27:37.629 I I think, you know, for me, you know, I I I think when you're convicted of your own sin, and because the the one the Bible does that, you know. 00:27:37.869 --> 00:27:44.829 I you know, Paul writes about that, you know, on a certain level if you didn't know the law, you know, but now you do you like like you'd have no excuse. 00:27:46.589 --> 00:27:51.549 But it's okay, now I know my own sin, so I'm grieved over it. 00:27:51.710 --> 00:27:56.269 Like, wouldn't that be an appropriate response? 00:27:57.069 --> 00:27:59.549 But they tell them, don't grieve. 00:27:59.950 --> 00:28:05.789 And and I think uh was some age like like I think that also makes a certain sense. 00:28:05.869 --> 00:28:17.389 I I think there is a a function of the enemy that likes to use the word that says, see, you're a liar, you can't do anything. 00:28:17.629 --> 00:28:25.629 Look at how horrible you are, but that's only half the Bible. 00:28:25.789 --> 00:28:28.909 It's look what God has done. 00:28:30.029 --> 00:28:39.789 And look, it's like God hasn't left you in that sense, he's not left you just kicked out of Eden. 00:28:40.029 --> 00:28:43.470 And then the law of my people will turn back to me. 00:28:43.549 --> 00:28:58.190 Yeah, they're like, whoa, he's not left you in slavery because you're just you know, he hasn't left you with the snakes biting you because you were sinful, he's saved you over and over and over again. 00:28:58.349 --> 00:29:09.389 He's not left you in exile, and uh, you know, they didn't have a sense of you know what this ultimate this ultimate redemption in Christ would be. 00:29:10.109 --> 00:29:14.909 But they say, get up, like we've actually have a lot. 00:29:15.470 --> 00:29:19.549 He's done it again, like we've got a lot to celebrate. 00:29:20.670 --> 00:29:30.430 Um and so that's how Nehemiah can say it's this joy of the Lord is our strength, you know. 00:29:30.990 --> 00:29:43.629 We are it's like we are it's that happiness that allows us to keep going despite defects because God has saves us from all of them. 00:29:43.950 --> 00:29:46.109 And so this the strong leadership. 00:29:46.190 --> 00:29:56.029 Um, if we read about Young Nehemiah as a governor, by the way, you think he went and didn't expect to be governor, he might have had that, might have had that thought uh all along as well. 00:29:56.190 --> 00:30:00.509 But so but the leaders, it feels like they almost anticipated this. 00:30:00.670 --> 00:30:07.950 They may have had their own reaction and uh their own conviction of sin and national sin, not just uh individual sins. 00:30:08.589 --> 00:30:10.670 And uh they're prepared. 00:30:10.829 --> 00:30:14.269 They didn't let the people wallow in their misery and over their sin. 00:30:14.349 --> 00:30:18.269 It's like, wait a minute, we we we got a feast coming up. 00:30:18.589 --> 00:30:19.950 We're gonna celebrate. 00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:25.710 We need to celebrate because we have recovered the law, we have recovered our identity. 00:30:25.869 --> 00:30:28.509 We built this the walls around the city. 00:30:28.750 --> 00:30:31.629 We are we're back. 00:30:32.109 --> 00:30:38.670 And you know, we can wobble at our sin and cry about that, but we can we as Christians we can be thankful with Jesus. 00:30:38.750 --> 00:30:40.829 We celebrate every week. 00:30:41.309 --> 00:30:45.149 Yep, this is also an echo from chapter one. 00:30:46.269 --> 00:30:51.149 You know, Nehemiah said when I heard these words, I sat down and wept to mourn. 00:30:51.629 --> 00:30:56.750 You know, and then I prayed that you know we've sinned. 00:30:56.990 --> 00:30:59.869 And so now they're doing that on a national level. 00:30:59.950 --> 00:31:04.109 Uh exactly kind of what Nehemiah's situation was. 00:31:04.430 --> 00:31:08.029 And yeah, let's repent, let's eat. 00:31:08.349 --> 00:31:11.789 And you know, the name of the cup bearer said, don't forget the wine, right? 00:31:11.869 --> 00:31:13.309 He said Yeah, yeah. 00:31:13.710 --> 00:31:14.670 It's a sweet one. 00:31:15.069 --> 00:31:17.629 It's also supposed to be mournful in front of the cat, either. 00:31:17.869 --> 00:31:18.589 That's true. 00:31:19.389 --> 00:31:19.789 That's true. 00:31:19.950 --> 00:31:20.509 It's a sweet one. 00:31:20.670 --> 00:31:24.269 Otherwise Lebrusco or uh Riesling. 00:31:25.789 --> 00:31:26.430 Yeah. 00:31:27.069 --> 00:31:27.869 He didn't say. 00:31:28.670 --> 00:31:33.789 Um, I've got one of the commentaries I have on this joy of the Lord, and I think that it speaks to that. 00:31:33.869 --> 00:31:38.589 It's like it's kind of like they hear all this, like they know they've got problems. 00:31:38.829 --> 00:31:45.549 But it's like it's like that's like this is kind of what a the full Bible should do for you on the deep down. 00:31:45.629 --> 00:31:48.509 It's like they don't realize how broken they are. 00:31:49.470 --> 00:32:00.269 And then you hear the Bible, and then if you fully atone it, you also should realize if you believe it, like how safe you are and how loved you are. 00:32:00.430 --> 00:32:11.869 And I I had this one commentary, he describes it to like the first time his wife took him into a bed bath and body works and gave him like some shea butter lotion. 00:32:12.029 --> 00:32:16.829 And he didn't want it because he thought it was gonna make him smell like flowers. 00:32:17.549 --> 00:32:26.109 But but he made him put on his hands, and he was like, and he didn't realize how dry and cracked, just like messed up his skin was until he put it on. 00:32:26.190 --> 00:32:30.430 And it just like it says, it just felt like it fixed everything. 00:32:30.829 --> 00:32:33.629 And and and here he is writing about it. 00:32:33.710 --> 00:32:39.230 And it's like it's like, and he says, that's what is like the word of God is like the shea butter of your soul. 00:32:39.309 --> 00:32:48.029 It's like it's gonna it's it's gonna fix the stuff that you don't even know is wrong, and it's gonna get deep down there in all of it. 00:32:48.990 --> 00:32:58.109 And and and so he leads with it, he says, he says, on some level, he's like, that's like what the joy of the Lord is. 00:32:58.269 --> 00:33:02.909 It's like you're not just kind of sitting back and just like, oh, this is nice. 00:33:03.149 --> 00:33:06.670 You know, it's no, I'm saved. 00:33:06.990 --> 00:33:16.509 It's like you you can have that mirth of I should be like this, I should be this other thing, but God has made me this. 00:33:17.069 --> 00:33:22.589 And so, because you're submitting to the truth of God, you're submitting to the truth of the Bible. 00:33:22.670 --> 00:33:25.710 We we, you know, because we believe in Jesus. 00:33:26.190 --> 00:33:26.670 Yeah. 00:33:33.230 --> 00:33:35.789